Wedgetail Eagle attacks glider, punches through canopy
 

An elderly gentleman indulging in a bit of local gliding has had a nasty experience with one very aggressive wedgetail eagle.

Wedgetail eagle smashes through glider canopy in high-altitude attack

I think he was one very lucky glider pilot, and the situation could easily have had a substantially worse outcome.

I must say I'm very surprised at the height the wedgetail was soaring at - 4500 feet. I know they get up to substantial heights - I have seen them at around 2000 feet, but not this high.
It never ceases to amaze me, how utterly fearless, big eagles are.

Obviously the bird was after the hat!

The Wedgies are totally fearless, aren't they?
Fortunately, I've never encountered one while airborne.

Back in my hang gliding days, I'd found that Sea Eagles, nearly as big, could get a bit close up and personal, letting you know that
you're on their territory - and please go play somewhere else.

Once, we encountered a large Pelican near Bourke, nonchalantly going about his business at a tad under 10,000ft. .. WTF?!

I've had a Buzzard dive at me with its feet aiming straight at me - it backed off at the last second and went over the port wing - I cringed waiting for it to hit the tailplane it was so close.. the feathers were beautiful, but i'd rather not get that much detail... it was part of a family group - parent protecting a youngster? youngster showing a lack of judgement - who knows...

@T/S: 4500' AMSL is nothing. There are reports of large birds nesting at 6000 m high; metres, not feet mind you. And even if there are no mountains so high, Spain has a bad reputation regarding large birds at high altitude. Just one example (though not stating any altitude) https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/wiki.php?id=183669

Ethiopian 727 hit a vulture at around 22000' several decades ago...

And Wikipedia says watch out at 37000'...!

I was a passenger in a C150 approaching Sebring at perhaps 1500' about 25 years ago. Two turkey vultures spotted thermalling ahead and well below just went under the right wing - salutary lesson at how quickly hot air can rise!

Perhaps..
It could be the rarified atmosphere that gets them that 'high'.

We did wonder whether that pelican, mentioned earlier, might have thought he was hot on the tail of a flying-fish.

Pelicans are excellent thermalers. I saw a good sized flock working a thermal in the Alberta foothills.

A Bald Eagle couple gained a thousand feet on me while I was trying to center a thermal:{

Height champions are bar headed Geese. They migrate over the Himalayas and have been reliably clocked at 30,300 feet.